We are committed to building peaceful and friendly ties with Pakistan: India

NEW DELHI- India today said it remains committed to building peaceful and friendly ties with Pakistan and expects it to abide by the commitment to prevent its territory and territory under its control from being used for terrorism against India. In a written reply to Rajya Sabha on the government's policies and program for enhancing bilateral relationship with SAARC countries, Minister of State for External Affairs Gen V K Singh said India will continue to engage pro-actively with all members of the grouping. On Pakistan, he said the government remains committed to building peaceful, friendly and cooperative ties with Pakistan in an environment free from terror and violence. "It is India's desire to intensify and accelerate the process of trade normalization and implement the steps agreed in September 2012 at the Commerce Secretary level," he said. The Minister said the government hopes that bilateral relations with Pakistan would progress in economic, cultural and political fields in the same manner that India's relations with her other SAARC neighbors have progressed in the recent years, built on partnerships for development and mutual prosperity. "It is India's expectation that Pakistan abides by its commitment to prevent its territory and territory under its control from being used for terrorism against India," Singh said. Meanwhile, underlining that India had a close strategic partnership with Afghanistan covering a broad spectrum of areas including an active role in providing development and reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan, he said New Delhi is working with Kabul for its regional integration with the SAARC economy.